Play and exercising device



7 15, 1 v. GNUECHTEL 1,

PLAY AND EXERCISING DEVICE Filed June 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //1Vewfar A mm 5011:6574- I Oct. 15, 1929. v, GNUECHT'EL 1,731,658

PLAY AND EXERCISING DEVICE Fild June 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i fl/l'arzey A Patented Get. 15, 1929 v'rcrron I H. GNUE'GHTEL,

rro STATES OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR F ONEeI-IALF TO BEN RIESLAND,OF PORTLAND, OREGON 1 PATENT OFFICEF' PLAY AND nxnncrsrne DEVICEApplication filed June 1, 1927. Serial No. 195,807.

My invention relates to play and eXercising devicesfor use in the home,in the private play ground, and for use upon public. play grounds andfor pupils in schools and other places where an exercising device isdesired to interest the children and to create healthful and musclebuilding development.

A further object of my invention consists I in a device that may bemanufactured at the point of origin, shipped in a knocked downcondition, and assembled with the least amount of labor and effort afterthe same has been received by the purchaser ofthe same.

A further object of my invention consists s in providing a simple andeilicient device in which one or more children may utilize the same andcreate an oscillating movement to the seat structure of the device bythe application of an oscillating movement thereto.

so The device consists of a primary frame structure mounted uponsupporting members arranged to permit of the movement of the device fromplace to place and consists primarily of a central oscillating elementsusii pended from the frame and adapted to being ridden astride by theuser of the same and being suspended from a supporting structure topermit of an oscillating movement being imparted to the suspendedelements and to 3c the riders of the same.

l/Vith these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, theessential elements of which are set :5 forth in the appended claims, anda proferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the assembleddevice, the same being taken on line AB of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection indicated. a

Fig. 2 is an end view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.

, Fig. 3 is a sectional, plan view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, lookingin the direction indicated.

Fig. l is a sec-ticaml, end. View; taken an line 4.& of Fig. '3, lookingin the direction indicated. J

Fig. 5 is a sectional, end view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking inthe direction indicated. 7

, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary,sectional, View made to illustrate a preferredform of construction that is adapted to prevent injury to the user ofthe device.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

I preferably form the frame of my device of four posts three of whichare shown as 1, 3 and 4, placed in an upright position and inclinedoutwardly at the bottom to give rigidity and stability to the devicewhen assembled, as themovement imparted to the same when used bychildren has a tendencyto create unequal equilibrium on the deviceunless precautionary measures are taken in the erection, design andassembly of the same.

To give mobility to' the same and to facilitate its removal from placeto place, I place base rails 5 and 6 at the bottom of the posts, one setof which is placed at the bottom of.

each set of side posts. I have found best re sults are obtained whereinthe rails are composed of two rails in each set, and when the same areassembled relative to the posts, one is placed at either side of eachset of side posts, so that four rails in all are used. To

prevent the unnecessary crawling of the rails I form recesses 7 at thebase ofe'ach. This forms pads 7 and 7 b atthe underside of the ends ofeach set of rails. Cross struts 8 and 8 are disposed adjacent the upperends of .same have slots formed in each end into which I. fit and 14::the 13' and 14 are journaled about supporting pins 15 and 16. The upperends of the links are adapted to oscillate within the slots and aboutthe journal pins.

Associated with the lower ends of the links 13 and 14 and securedthereto, are tension supporting bars 17 and 18. These bars are arrangedas illustrated in Fig. 2, each of which is inwardly inclined from thetop down and are secured together at their lower ends. V shaped blocks19 and 20 are disposed between the lower ends of the bars 17 and 18 andthe supporting upright post 21. A hori- Zontal longitudinal toot rail 22is disposed below the lower ends of the bars 17 and 18. Saddle rails 28and 24 are disposed horizontally within the supporting bars 17 and 18,and a multiple of saddles 25 and 26 are mounted on the upper sides ofthe same. Operating pumping bars 27 and 28 are disposed between the siderails 23 and 24 having cross h and elements 29 and 30 disposed adjacentt 1e upper ends which may be grasped by the rider of the device andmovementbeing imparted thereto. in. order to enhance the appearance ofthe device the upper forward end of the element 28 may be made into afantastic shape as that of a horse head or other animal to be ridden bythe operator of the same. The side rails are associated with the uprightmembers 21 by pin connections 31 and 82 and a foot rest 33 is disposedadjacent the lower end of the operating levers upon which the foot ofthe user of the device may be made to rest, so that a reciprocalmovement is imparted to the lever and therefore to the seats and saddlesupon which the operator rests. To prevent the fingers and other elementsof the body being entrapped with the joints of the device, I havearranged the same as illustrated in Fig. 6, in which a slot 3 1 isdisposed through the rail through which the op erating lever is made topass and the same is hinged about the pin 85 which is disposed adjacentthe lower edge of the rail so that when the full stroke of the device isreached in its reciprocating movement the lever will strike upon theshoulders 36 and 87 and leave a clearance-at the upper end asillustrated in dotted position in Fig. 6 at 38, thus protecting thehandof the operator of the same from being caught and pinched betweenthe shoulders of the slot and the operating lever.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invent-ion to the one form or"embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible ofembodiment in various terms, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of an elevatedsupport, supporting bars pivotally depending from said support, saidsupporting bars inclined inwardly to their lower ends, V shaped blocksdisposed at the inner side of the lower ends of the supporting bars andsaid supporting bars and the V shaped blocks being secured together,horizontal longitudinal saddle rails disposed between the supportingbars and indirectly supported thereby, a multiple of saddles disposedupon the saddle rails and means for imparting a pendulum action to thesupporting bars.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of an elevatedsupport, supporting bars depending from said support and inclinedinwardly to their lower ends, V shaped blocks disposed at the inner sideof the lower ends of the supportingbars, upright posts disposed betweenthe V shaped blocks, the supporting bars, the V shaped blocks and theupright post's being secured together, a foot rail pivotally disposed atthe lower ends of the uprights posts, saddle rails pivotally disposed atthe upper ends of the upright posts, a multiple of saddles disposed uponthe rails and means for imparting a swinging action to the supportingbars.

VICTOR H. GNUEGHTEL.

